Like our high street pavement culture? It could be permanent ...

The governments temporary measures that have given a huge boost to high streets and hospitality during the pandemic could be made permanent following a public consultation launched today.

From marquees in pub grounds, to street markets operating all year round, permitted development rights (PDRs) allowed people to enjoy al fresco dining and visit town centres and tourist attractions as the nation reopened from the pandemic.

These planning reforms also gave businesses and councils a lifeline to operate alongside the right to regenerate and new licensing arrangements.

The government is aiming to make a number of these permanent and is asking for view from the public.

Secretary of State for Housing Robert Jenrick said: "The simple reforms we made during the pandemic to help hospitality businesses, markets and historic visitor attractions make use of outdoor spaces more easily, made a massive impact. They helped thousands of businesses and attraction to prosper, made out town centres livelier and have been enjoyed by millions of us.

"As part of our vision to transform high streets into thriving places to work, visit and live, we intend to make as many of these measures permanent fixtures of British life as possible.

The permitted development rights introduced over the past year and that the government are now consulting on include the right for markets to be held by or on behalf of local councils

This supported communities in holding outdoor markets and encouraged the use of outdoor public spaces, both to increase public health initiatives and the reopening of the high street. The government is proposing that this right be made permanent.

It also supported the right for moveable structures in the grounds of pubs, cafes, restaurants and historic visitor attractions. In April 2021, moveable structures such as marquees and additional seating were allowed for the first time in the grounds of listed buildings, helping support the important hospitality and tourism sectors. This has helped businesses increase capacity as they reopened, and the government is now seeking views on making this permanent.